Part 10 (1/2)
But Euryalus insisted on accompanying his friend, and so after obtaining the consent of the chiefs in command, who highly praised their courage and promised to reward them, they made ready to set forth. Euryalus begged that they would comfort and a.s.sist his mother if any evil should happen to him. To this request Iulus answered that she should be to him as if she were his own mother. ”Grat.i.tude is due to her,” said he, ”for having given birth to such a son. The reward I promise to give to you, if you return in safety, I shall give to your mother should ill fortune attend you.”
Euryalus and Nisus now set out upon their mission. Pa.s.sing through the camp of the sleeping Rutulians, they soon reached the outside of the enemy's lines. It happened that a body of Latian hors.e.m.e.n was just then pa.s.sing that way on the route from Laurentum to join the army of Turnus. Catching sight of the two strangers, Volcens, the leader of the troop, cried out to them to ”stand,” and demanded to know who they were, and whither they were bound. The Trojans, making no answer, fled into a wood close by. Then Volcens placed guards on the pa.s.ses and at the outlets of the wood to prevent the escape of the fugitives.
Meanwhile Euryalus, getting separated from his companion, and losing his way in the thick shades of the forest, fell into the enemy's hands.
Nisus might have escaped, and had in fact got out of the wood, but finding that his friend had disappeared, he returned to search for him. Presently he heard the tramp of the horses, and looking forth from a thicket in which he had concealed himself, he saw Euryalus in the midst of the Latians, who were dragging him violently along.
Deeply grieved at the sight, and resolving to rescue his comrade, or die in the attempt, Nisus, after praying to Diana, the G.o.ddess of the woods, to guide his weapon in its course, hurled a javelin at the enemy. It pierced the body of one of the Latians named Sulmo, who fell dead. His companions gazed around in amazement, not knowing whence the attack had come. Nisus then cast another javelin, and again one of the Latians fell to the ground. Enraged at seeing his men thus slain before his eyes by an unseen a.s.sailant, Volcens, with sword in hand, rushed upon Euryalus, crying out that his life should pay the penalty for both. Great was the agony of Nisus at seeing his friend about to be put to death, and starting from his concealment, he exclaimed aloud, ”I am he who did the deed. Turn your arms therefore on me.”
”Me! me! (he cried) turn all your swords alone On me--the fact confessed, the fault my own.
His only crime (if friends.h.i.+p can offend) Is too much love to his unhappy friend.”
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK IX.
But vain was the effort of Nisus to save his friend, for scarce had his last word been spoken when Euryalus fell lifeless to the earth, pierced by the weapon of Volcens. Filled with grief and rage, and eager to avenge the death of his companion, Nisus rushed into the midst of the foe, seeking only Volcens, and though blows showered upon him from all sides, he pressed on until coming up to the Latian chief, he slew him with a single thrust of his sword. Then covered with wounds, the brave Trojan dropped dead, falling upon the body of the friend he had so loved. Thus these two sons of Troy, companions in life, were companions also in death. Their friends.h.i.+p, immortalized by the Roman poet, became proverbial.
O happy friends! for, if my verse can give Immortal life, your fame shall ever live, Fixed as the Capitol's foundation lies, And spread, where'er the Roman eagle flies!
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK IX.
Early in the morning Turnus called his men to arms, and with loud shouts all rushed forward to the Trojan ramparts. Then a fierce conflict took place during which many heroes fell on both sides, after performing wonderful feats of valor. There was a wooden tower of great height and strength which stood outside the wall, and was connected with it by bridges. The Rutulians made great efforts to break down this tower, while the Trojans defended it by hurling stones upon the enemy, and casting darts at them through loopholes. So the struggle continued until Turnus with a flaming torch set the building on fire.
Fierce Turnus first a firebrand flings; It strikes the sides, takes hold, and clings; The freshening breezes spread the blaze, And soon on plank and beam it preys.
The inmates flutter in dismay And vainly wish to fly; There as they huddle and retire Back to the part which 'scapes the fire, Sudden the o'erweighted ma.s.s gives way, And falling, shakes the sky.
CONINGTON, _AEneid_, BOOK IX.
Only two of the occupants of the tower--Hel'e-nor and Lycus--escaped destruction in its fall, but on emerging from the ruins they found themselves in the midst of the Rutulians. Helenor seeing no chance of saving his life, faced his foes like a lion and died in the thick of the fight. Lycus, who was a swift runner, fled towards the walls, das.h.i.+ng through the lines of the enemy. He had almost grasped the summit of the rampart and reached the outstretched hands of his friends when Turnus, who had darted in pursuit, dragged him to the ground, and slew him, while he taunted him, saying, ”Fool, didst thou hope to be able to escape our hands?”
The battle now became more furious. From every quarter were heard shouts of fighting men and clas.h.i.+ng of arms. Amongst the heroes of the day was young Iulus, hitherto accustomed to use his weapons only in the chase. His first arrow in war was now aimed against the brother- in-law of Turnus, a chief named Nu-ma'nus, who fought not only with sword but with his tongue, mocking at the Trojans in a loud voice, in front of the Latian lines. ”Are you not ashamed, Trojans,” cried he, ”to be a second time shut up behind walls? What madness has brought you to Italy? Know that it is not Grecians, nor the crafty Ulysses, you have now to deal with. We are a hardy race. We dip our infants in the rivers to inure them to cold. Our boys are trained to hunt in the woods. Our whole life is spent in arms. Age does not impair our courage or vigor. As for you, your very dress is embroidered with yellow and purple; indolence is your delight; you love to indulge in dancing and such frivolous pleasures. Women you are, and not men.
Leave fighting to warriors and handle not the sword.”
”Leave men, like us, in arms to deal Nor bruise your lily hands with steel.”
CONINGTON, _AEneid_, BOOK IX.
The spirited young Trojan prince could not patiently endure these insults, and so drawing his bow-string and praying to Father Jupiter, he sent forth his steel-tipped arrow. Whizzing through the air the weapon pierced the head of Numa.n.u.s, and at the same moment Iulus exclaimed, ”Vain boaster, this is our answer to your insults.” With shouts of joy the Trojans applauded the deed, and loud were their praises of the valor of their young chief. Even from on high came approving words, for just then the fair-haired Apollo, seated on a cloud, was watching the conflict. And thus spoke the G.o.d in a loud voice, ”Go on and increase in valor, O youth. Such is the path-way to immortality, thou art the descendant of G.o.ds, and from whom G.o.ds are to descend.”
[Ill.u.s.tration with caption: APOLLO VANIs.h.i.+NG AFTER CAUTIONING IULUS.
(Drawn by Trautschold)]
Uttering these words Apollo came down from the sky, and taking the appearance of Bu'tes, formerly the armor-bearer of Anchises, but now the guardian of Iulus, walked by the young prince's side and addressed him, saying, ”Son of AEneas, let it be enough for thee that by thine arrow Numa.n.u.s has fallen. Apollo has granted to thee this glory; but take no further part in the conflict.” Then the G.o.d, throwing off his disguise, ascended to the heavens. The Trojan chiefs recognized him as he departed, and thus knowing that it was the divine will, they caused Iulus to retire, while they themselves again rushed forward to the battle--
They bend their bows; they whirl their slings around; Heaps of spent arrows fall, and strew the ground; And helms, and s.h.i.+elds, and rattling arms, resound.
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK IX.
At this point two brothers, Pan'da-rus and Bit'i-as, sons of the Trojan Al-ca'non, of Mount Ida, tall and powerful youths, threw open the gate at which they were posted as sentinels, and standing within, one on each side, they challenged the foe to enter. The Rutulians rushed forward as soon as they saw the pa.s.sage open. Several of them were slain at the threshold by the valiant brothers. Then some of the Trojans sallied out beyond the rampart, and a fierce fight took place.
King Turnus, hearing of these events, hurried to the gate, and joining in the battle, slew many of the Trojan warriors. He hurled a dart at Bitias, and so great was the force of the blow that not even the huge sentinel's s.h.i.+eld, formed of two bull's hides, nor his breastplates with double scales of gold, could resist it.
Not two bull-hides the impetuous force withhold, Nor coat of double mail, with scales of gold.
Down sunk the monster-bulk, and pressed the ground, His arms and clattering s.h.i.+eld on the vast body sound DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK IX.
When Pandarus beheld his brother stretched dead on the ground, and saw that the battle was going against the Trojans, he closed the gate, moving it upon its hinges and fastening it in its place with the strength of his broad shoulders. Some of his own people were thus shut out and left in the midst of the enemy, but in his hurry Pandarus did not notice that amongst those who were shut in was the fierce King Turnus.